SENATOR ELIZABETH O’C. LITTLECHAIR

NEW YORK STATE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS,

TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

2015 COMMITTEE REPORT

December 2015 Honorable John Flanagan Majority Leader New York State Senate Albany, NY 12247 Dear Senator Flanagan I am pleased to submit to you the 2015 Annual Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation for the 2015 Legislative Session. This report outlines the committee’s overall activity from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. In 2015, 60 bills were assigned to the Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee, and 20 bills were reported from the committee. Six of these bills were signed into law. The Committee also approved 11 nominations during the year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee. I would also like to thank all the members of the committee for their efforts and support throughout the year. Sincerely, Elizabeth O’C. Little Senator

THE SENATESTATE OF NEW YORK

ElizAbETH O'C. liTTlESENATOR, 45TH diSTRiCT

ROOm 310

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AlbANY, NY 12247

(518) 455-2811

5 WARREN STREET

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CHAiRCulTuRAl AFFAiRS, TOuRiSm,

pARKS & RECREATiON

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CRimE viCTimS, CRimE & CORRECTiON

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ENERgY & TElECOmmuNiCATiONS

ENviRONmENTAl CONSERvATiON

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December 2015 Honorable John Flanagan Majority Leader New York State Senate Albany, NY 12247 Dear Senator Flanagan I am pleased to submit to you the 2015 Annual Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation for the 2015 Legislative Session. This report outlines the committee’s overall activity from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. In 2015, 60 bills were assigned to the Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee, and 20 bills were reported from the committee. Six of these bills were signed into law. The Committee also approved 11 nominations during the year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee. I would also like to thank all the members of the committee for their efforts and support throughout the year. Sincerely, Elizabeth O’C. Little Senator

Senator Elizabeth O’C. Little, Chair

Senator Jose Serrano, Ranking Member

Committee Members

Senator Tony Avella Senator Brad Hoylman Senator John J. Bonacic Senator Timothy Kennedy Senator Joseph Griffo Senator Kevin S. Parker Senator Carl L. Marcellino Senator James Sanders, Jr. Senator Kathleen A. Marchione Senator Patricia Ritchie Senator Susan Serino

Committee Staff

Sandra Sloane, Committee Director Mary Pat McDonald, Committee Clerk

Anthony Piscitelli, Senior Counsel to the Majority

Room 309 Legislative Office Building

Albany, NY 12247 1

Legislation

Chaptered into Law in 2015 S. 3481B-Lanza: Restricts the use of all property in the county of Richmond purchased by the state under the NY rising recovery program, which is the custody of the housing trust fund corporation. Chapter 541 of the Laws of 2015. S. 3951-Larkin: Creates the Hudson River pilots surcharge boards. Chapter 478 of the Laws of 2015. S. 4119A-Klein: Extends until July 1, 2020, the expiration of the authorization to the New York Zoological Society to offer a free one day admission to the zoological park. Signed Chapter 30 of the Laws of 2015. S. 4235A-Little: Establishes the Edward Hopper citation of merit for visual artists. Chapter 582 of the Laws of 2015. S. 4553A-Marcellino: Relates to abolishing committees, boards and panels that are no longer necessary including the New York state collectable series panel and the plant industry advisory board. Chapter 105 of the Laws of 2015. Passed by the Senate in 2015 S. 387- Marcellino: Exempts operators of law enforcement vessels from laws which regulate vessels on the navigable waters of the state while responding to emergencies. Passed Senate only. S. 705-Serrano: Relates to the reporting of alienation of municipal parkland. Passed Senate only. S. 956-Serrano: Prohibits littering on state parklands. Passed Senate only. S. 1229-Little: Relates to the authenticity, attribution and authorship of fine works of art. Passed Senate only. S. 1850-Little: Authorizes persons under the age of fourteen to participate in special events involving snowmobiles. Passed Senate only. S. 2056-Flanagan: Establishes the Nissequogue river state park. Passed Senate only. S. 2159A-Griffo: Establishes protocols for combative sports; authorizes mixed martial arts events in this state. Passed Senate, Recalled and Amended, Committed to Rules. S. 3051-DeFrancisco: Relates to establishing a campsite reservation preference for state residents. Passed Senate only.

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S.3339A-Lanza: Relates to prohibiting the New York State Council on the Arts from awarding arts and cultural grants in certain situations. Passed Senate only. S.4374-Ortt: Amends Chapter 372 of the Laws of 2008 relating to establishing the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Commission, in relation to the effectiveness thereof. Passed Senate only. S. 4531-Griffo: Establishes protocols for amateur combative sports. Passed Senate only. S. 4977-Marcellino: Relates to the payment of fines for certain violations, the reduction of certain insurance rates and establishes the boating safety education fund. Passed Senate only. Advanced to the Senate Calendar S. 789-LaValle: Relates to liability insurance rate reductions upon completion of a boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course. Committed to Rules. S. 1339-Klein: Dedicates and designates Jerome Park as parklands of the City of New York and establishes a working group for such park to enhance the use there of. Third Reading. S. 3739-Marchione: Directs the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to cooperate with municipalities in establishing adopt-a-park programs. Committed to Rules.

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COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

Nominations Thomas Lee Hoover, Chairman and Member of the State Athletic Commission On June 15, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Thomas Lee Hoover as a member and Chairman of the State Athletic Commission and voted to move his nomination. Chairman Hoover was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Jaynne C. Keyes, Member of the Council on the Arts On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Jaynne C. Keyes as a member of the Council on the Arts and voted to move her nomination. Ms. Keyes was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. William Beaney, Member of the Olympic Regional Development Authority On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of William Beaney as a member of the Olympic Regional Development Authority and voted to move his nomination. Mr. Beaney was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Gerard J. Mosey, Member of the Niagara Frontier State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Gerard J. Mosey as a member of the Niagara Frontier State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move his nomination. Mr. Mosey was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Randall J. Fleischer, member of the Taconic State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Randall J. Fleischer as a member of the Taconic State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move his nomination. Mr. Fleischer was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Frederick H. Osborn III, member of the Taconic State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Frederick H. Osborn III as a member of the Taconic State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move his nomination. Mr. Osborn was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Jamie Hart, Member of the Central New York State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission One June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Jamie Hart as a member of the Central New York State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move her nomination. Ms. Hart was confirmed by the full Senate later that day.

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Kathleen M. Bannister, Member of the Genesee State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Kathleen M. Bannister as a member of the Genesee State park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move her nomination. Ms. Bannister was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Nathan E. Coogan, Member of the Genesee State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Nathan E. Coogan as a member of the Genesee State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move his nomination. Mr. Coogan was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. James F. Gaughran, Member of the Long Island State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of James F. Gaughran as a member of the Long Island State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move his nomination. Mr. Gaughran was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Stephen W. Buechner, Member of the Central New York State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission On June 18, 2015 the Committee considered the nomination of Stephen W. Buechner as a member of the Central New York State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission and voted to move his nomination. Mr. Buechner was confirmed by the full Senate later that day. Presentations Gavin Landry, Empire State Development On February 26, 2015 Gavin Landry from Empire State Development addressed the Committee and gave a demonstration of the new “I Love NY” app. Mark Gronitch, Statewide News Service On May 20, 2015 Mark Gronitch, President and Owner of Statewide News Service spoke to the Committee on “Around the World” in New York State. Derek Sprague, President of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) On May 28, 2015 Derek Sprague, President of the PGA, addressed the committee in regard to the importance of golf and tourism.

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